On October 30, 2006, my life changed in the blink of an eye. After one visit with my dermatologist, we were given the horrible news that I had melanoma on my scalp. In an instant all our hopes and dreams for the upcoming years were shattered. It was surreal that our lives could be going in one direction and in a second it felt like it had crumbled to pieces and there was absolutely nothing we could do.

From day one, I promised myself, my husband, our families and friends that I would fight to beat the melanoma. I had too much to accomplish in my life. At 28 years old, I didn’t understand how this was fair but I knew I had no choice but to keep going, stay positive and believe, one day, that I would get well.

After my surgery on November 7, 2006, I was on the road to recovery. March 2, 2007, my husband and I sat in my oncologist’s office to find out more terrible news. My melanoma had spread regionally. I remember asking if I was going to die. That is the only thing that I could say. In an instant, all my fears resurfaced. This time, though, I realized just how serious melanoma was. Deep down inside I had a feeling that I was not going to receive good news that day. I did have three lumps on my head and neck. It was a gut instinct something wasn’t right. I was off to surgery again on March 22, 2007.

Again, I made the same promise as I did on October 30. I would fight my hardest and remain strong. I vowed I would battle through my surgery and the radiation treatment that would follow. Even though it was very difficult I kept my promise and made it through. I even had a third surgery for another melanoma on my thigh during radiation treatment. Looking back I have no idea how I had gotten through the last several months.

One day during my 5th week of radiation, I was at my neighbor’s house complaining about how bad I felt, how I couldn’t taste anything, and said to her that I just wanted to take my frustration and sadness out by splattering paint all over a canvas. What a great idea we decided! That afternoon my husband went out to the store and bought me the biggest canvas they sold. We all set up shop in our driveway and went to work. Even though I felt sick from treatment, it all went away for the couple of hours my husband and I spent in the driveway throwing paint on a canvas. The painting now hangs in our kitchen. It was definitely not the easiest thing to do but it helped me!

Once radiation was over and we were on our way to our business relationship with the North Canton Medical Foundation we did not think anything could stop us! I felt we had gone through quite a bit already.

On a Friday, July 13th, yes, Friday the 13th, we received more news. This time it was much worse. I found out my PET scan revealed melanoma had spread to my right lung, left lung, liver, vertebrae and pelvic bone. Again, my only thought was ‘I am going to beat this! I have to beat this!’

We have been in Durham, North Carolina, at Duke University Medical Center since July 15. I am currently undergoing an intense chemotherapy regimen. Since October 30, 2006, I have had 3 surgeries and gone through 3 treatment programs. I am a Stage IV melanoma cancer patient but plan on making that a cancer survivor soon. It’s not easy to battle cancer. It takes every ounce of physical and emotional strength to fight and to fight hard.

What keeps me going? It’s my promise to myself, my husband, family and friends to keep fighting and live a long and happy life. Each and every single day is a struggle. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of the recurrence of melanoma and how quickly it can change my life again… but I will continue to fight.

I have been dealt a bad hand and I have learned to deal with it by expressing myself through art. It has been my savior during this horrible time. We want to share our art and craft work with everyone who has supported or would like to support cancer patients. Through our partnership with the North Canton Medical Foundation we are donating half of all proceeds from our work to their Cancer Relief Fund. It is our time to help give back to others that need support and our hope is that our gifts will bring happiness and joy to everyone. We have had a lot of love and support through our battle with cancer. We strongly feel our company will help others in need while at the same time bring color to your home or work. Every time you look at one of our pieces, you will know that you helped someone else in need.

- As told by Ellen Gray